Reflections from the Resilient Gardens Conference: Scaling Up from Urban to Rural Growing
On September 18, I was invited to speak on a panel at the Resilient Gardens Conference, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets at The Heartwood at Vassar in Poughkeepsie, NY. The day was filled with great conversations, useful information, and a chance to connect with growers who are passionate about the future of farming and gardening.
A Day of Learning and ConnectionScaling Up: Exploring the Urban-Rural Connection
I joined the “Scaling Up Panel: Exploring the Urban-Rural Connection” with Jayne Haenson, who owns Transgenerational Farm, and Brett Grant, owner of Hidden Pearls Healing Center. The panel was moderated by Makela Elvy, M.Ed. We talked about what it takes to go from growing food in small city spaces to farming on a bigger, rural scale.
We talked about many topics, such as:
- Land acquisition and responsibility: what it means to care for land, not just own it
- Key things to think about when moving or expanding to a rural area, from infrastructure to building community
- Climate change and how it is changing the way growers plan and plant
- Farmer resources: what is available, what is missing, and how growers can find support
- Farming in the Hudson Valley: the unique opportunities and challenges of growing in this area
This discussion ties in closely with my work at Uptown & Boogie Healthy Project, where I run programs that bring fresh food to Harlem and the Bronx, as well as my own path in farming. I talked about my experiences, including both the practical and emotional sides of leaving the city to start something new in the countryside.
Workshops That Deepened the Day
After the panel, I went to two workshops that really deepened my understanding of sustainable growing practices.
In Kwesi Joseph’s workshop on soil health, we learned how growers can use rock dust, biochar, and other amendments to build healthier, stronger soil over time.
Joseph Amsili, PhD, led a workshop on cover crops. He explained the benefits of cover cropping for sustainable gardens, how to pick the right cover crop for your needs, and the best ways to use them.
